Instinctively Right!

For Tuesday, September 23, 2025:

Hebrews 10:16 NLT: “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

The New Covenant represents a better deal for mankind. God’s desire is that none would be lost and that all would repent and return. So instead of having to read God’s Laws and try to memorize them, his commands have been permanently placed within us as instinct. No longer can we say, I didn’t know about that rule or I don‘t understand that policy. Now we intuitively know right from wrong. Thank you, Jesus!

This applies regardless of whether the person is a believer. For example, we have civil laws saying that murder is wrong, but we don’t need those laws to teach us. The Bible teaches us! Everyone from the priest to the prisoner in solitary already knows that we shouldn’t murder one another. It’s written on our hearts. We should love God, be kind to our parents; we shouldn’t steal, lie or covet what isn’t ours. Everyone already knows. Our minds have been pre-programmed to do the right thing!

God wisely put every inhabitant of Earth on the same page, giving us a uniform code of conduct. We all have the same rules, the same behavior standards. If a behavior is wrong in Washington, D.C., it’s wrong in Los Angeles. If a sin is wrong in Kansas City, It’s wrong in Moscow too. God has codified His value system and written it on mankind’s hearts. So we already know the right way to live our lives – God’s way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

For Thursday, February 20, 2025:

Exodus 23:1 NLT: “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.”

People of God should be people of integrity. We should not lie, cheat or steal. The song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love,” but it should also say, “They will know we are Christians by our truth.” Christians should be known for honesty.

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Liars, scammers and thieves will don a coat of Christianity, attempting to fool many, attempting to add credibility to their sham. They need to be called out on their offensive nature and expelled from the fellowship before they pollute others.

There’s really only one right way to live. It’s God’s way or the highway! Remember, truth is God’s opinion on everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God's Instructions!

For Tuesday, February 11, 2025:

Exodus 16:11-12 NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

The people of Israel are once again whining and complaining. And once again God meets their needs. Each of six mornings, manna, a bread flavored with honey, would fall from the sky. In those evenings, flocks of quail would land amongst the Israelites, providing meat for dinner. On the seventh day, the Lord’s day, the food gathered for day six would provide double the amount, so no one would have to work on the Lord’s day.

Having done this, God said, “Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” God is an eternal optimist! The Israelites soon violate God’s plan. They were told to gather only enough manna for today, about two quarts. Some gathered too little; some gathered way too much. God evened it out; everyone had just enough. They were told to not set any manna aside for tomorrow. Some disobeyed, and found yesterday’s manna full of maggots and funny-smelling. But for some reason (God), the extra gathered on day six would still be fresh and wholesome on the Sabbath. Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?” How long, Lord?

In short, when the people of Israel followed God’s instructions, everything worked out great. They would have manna for 40 years until they reached Canaan. That same principle applies to believers and to our lives. If we follow God’s instructions, things always work out better. But if we insist on driving, our car often heads toward the ditch. God’s way is always the best way!

Manna means, “What is it?”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

For Saturday, November 16, 2024:

1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT: “We urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”

Paul is encouraging the Thessalonian church: We have taught you to live in God’s ways, according to his commandments, according to his value system. We know that you are already living that way, but can you go a step further? Can you prioritize God even more in your lives? When God looks down from heaven upon the Thessalonian church, don’t you all want him to have a smile on his face? And when God looks down on each of our churches, aren’t we also looking for that smile of approval?

Can we all love the Lord a little more each day? More time and stronger devotion? And certainly we can do a better job of loving our neighbors, of taking care of the needy, the sick, the orphaned and the widowed. We should be the hands and feet that pour God’s mercy into the world. Friends, this kind of help and love has to come from the church. We cannot count on the government for benevolence, and we cannot legislate virtue. Only from God and his church can come these planks in our moral platform.

God’s will is for us to be holy!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Leadership!

November 4, 2024 Monday Message:

1 Samuel 16:1 NLT: “Now the Lord said to Samuel, … ‘Find a man named Jesse, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.’”

The favored son turned out to be David, the shepherd-boy who eventually conquered Goliath and rose to prominence in Israel. God planned the whole thing!

David was not perfect. You see, God must choose our leaders from the mankind-pool, a flawed, sinful supply! But God will often choose someone who is redeemable, someone who will repent and return to the Lord. You can read about David repenting in Psalm 51.

Tomorrow is election day in the US, and my prayer is that God will have his hand on the election. Compare the candidates with how Jesus lived his life and with God’s commands in the Bible. Don’t vote on just a single issue. Rather consider the entire scenario, the big picture. Whoever is the best fit should get your vote. Ultimately, God will have his way.

Realize that corrupt, immoral leaders can be a judgment on an imperfect nation! Yikes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Divine Encouragement!

For Friday, September 15, 2023:

Psalm 139:24 NLT: “Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

This is the prayer of a mature believer, one who’s “all-in” for God, but wise enough to know that shortcomings will inevitably plague their lives. David is saying, “God, I’m with you 100%, but when I get off-track, kindly give me a course correction. Give me a nudge in the right direction.”

Before we became believers, God’s standards meant little to us. But as believers, God’s value system became the gold standard for the way we should live our lives. Being human, we won’t always hit our goal. From time to time, we’ll need divine encouragement to get our lives back in order. Hence this prayer!

We should follow David’s example of trusting God to lead us in HIS way, the right way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Overflowing Agenda!

For Friday, October 22, 2021

Matthew 11:28 NLT: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

It’s really hard to tell someone ‘no!’ Christians aren’t very good at it! Many people tend to over-promise and under-deliver. They’re probably not bad people; simply over-burdened. Their agenda is overflowing. They’d like to be a super-hero at work, for their spouse and for their kids, but there are only 24 hours in a day. Burning the candle at both ends just makes things worse.

Jesus has a better way. The Message translates it like this, Jesus speaking: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

There’s the wrong way, and then there’s Jesus’ way. His way is always better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406